5/8/13 To really develop a deep sense of appreciation for the life we have…

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5/6/13 Take a moment to deeply appreciate the people in our lives

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5/2/13 To not worry so much over things we have no control over….

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One of the earliest bits of advice, below…. still working away at this one…
little bit, little bit….little bit at a time

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“Plant flowers, pull weeds…the garden of life”…. increase the positives, decrease the negatives

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Yesterday’s post on Pocket Perspectives: “Plant Flowers, Pull Weeds”
Originally heard that expression, “Plant Flowers, Pull Weeds,” from Rick Hanson

Generosity…bringing and offering food to others….generosity

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From Daily DalaiLama.com, Monday, 4/29/13

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The generosity of bringing or offering food to others…
especially when it’s yummmmmmy food….

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Denali, in photo, didn’t get that food…
…we got that…
But she did get lots of other yummy foods and treats!

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4/28/13 Applying patience, love, kindness and wisdom in our daily lives

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4/25/13 Try to remain aware of expectations and keep them in check

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4/21/13 “One day at a time…that’s enough for now…”

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4/18/13 Encourage you to slow down…

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“Taking in the good….of being cared about, of your thoughts words and deeds, the goodness at the core of your being…”

Added by Kathy: Kathy created these pages a few years ago, using some very kind and encouraging ideas from Rick Hanson’s Just One Thing Weekly Newsletter, “Creating a Sanctuary in My Mind,” October 22, 2011.   Rick gave his permission for me to put these ideas together and to add music to them. I find that there are some very helpful, reassuring and soothing ideas in here.

I often watch and listen to this “video”… I sit, quieting my mind as much as I can, and try to take in and resonate with each idea. I find it helpful and  hope it might be helpful to others, too.

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Rick Hanson is the author of  the books Buddha’s Brain and Just One Thing, and has a huge, helpful website, Wisebrain.  Rick also has many of his talks on youtube.  Link to Rick Hanson’s Youtube talks.

A clip from a  really lovely, soothing song, Metta, Karuna, Mudita, Uppeka  (Loving kindness, compassion, joy, equanimity),   by Betsy Rose, of Betsy Rose Music.

Nurturing flexibility… allowing “I don’t know” to open up to “new learning”

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Nurturing flexibility…
in perceiving, interpreting, thinking and reacting…
in living  life…
Noticing that, at times,  we might “not know,”
Noticing when things might not be “the way we  think they are”…
and using that awareness of “not knowing”
as motivating energy for developing more learning and understanding…
wonderful benefits as we are “nurturing flexibility” in our thinking and understanding

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A related previous post from Pocket Perspectives… I originally thought it was a “sad” and “discouraging” thing as I  became aware that  “I didn’t know,” but now I see that awareness of “not knowing” as a gateway to learning…a very hopeful and positive awareness. Link to post:  “Here’s what I know…. acceptance of not knowing” 

A short, 50 second youtube of those older “I don’t know” pages:

(well here is a bizarre “I don’t know”… !!!…the first youtube “I don’t know” booklet leads, unexpectedly,  into another youtube booklet… “In every moment, it’s all here”…a booklet that I’m not so fond of, but ties in with ideas I’ve been thinking about for the past week, too… I definitely “don’t know why” that is happening…bizarre!… I guess an opportunity for me to “nurture flexibility”???…just click stop…or click into youtube and browse through that youtube channel if you like… there are some interesting booklets mixed in there…approximately 50 booklets there )

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What wonderful changes can happen with time and learning more perspectives…changing from seeing “I don’t know” as a very sad and discouraging awareness…to realizing how true  “I don’t know”  sometimes is and what wonderful changes can come from awareness of that….

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“Is it just a rope?” … “Oh no!…a snake?”…. “Wow!…jewelry?”

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some figuring out… from Kathy…
using the Buddhist idea and metaphor …of whether one sees a rope or a snake,
creating stronger awareness about the dynamic in that perception or interpretation
learning to use this awareness in everyday life

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4/13/13 Confusion will occur… slowly we come to understand these states in a different way

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4/12/13 Friendship is valuable

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4/11/13 How we choose or try to react is what matters….

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Shantideva’s Prayer and The DalaiLama… “So long as space remains….”

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Shantideva’s Prayer
” This is one of H.H. the Dalai Lama’s favourite prayers, extracted from “A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life” by Shantideva, a Buddhist master from the monastic university of Nalanda, India and composed in the eighth century of the Christian era”     FPMT brochure.

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Larger view of Shantideva’s Prayer  in upper “Extra Special Pages” area: Shantideva’s Prayer

3/30/13 So thankful to the loved ones who are sharing in our lives…

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Companion post on Pocket Perspectives: 3/30/1985 Morning Has Broken…love and appreciating, as life hurries on

3/29/13 Just like myself, everyone wishes for happiness and freedom from suffering

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3/25/13 To wait until the situation is more settled….to understand it

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3/23/13 Learning opportunities…

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“Bumbling”
written 2007

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Excerpts from “Bumbling along” post,  from November, 2011

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March, 2013…
continuing to learn so much…
I just realized something….
I don’t seem to look at “mistakes” with such a “critical” eye these days…
What a nice shift that is!
and a HUGE surprise, too!
I didn’t realize that I’d changed in this way….
What a really nice surprise.

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3/22/13 Appreciate each moment that we have….use each moment to grow

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photo….a little “self seeded” lambs ear, growing in a small crack in concrete

3/13/13 Stay in the moment…

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3/12/13 A nice lesson about persevering and not giving up… “Go Nali!”

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imagined or perceived limitations and fears…
learning to persevere and not give up…
just “chipping away”
“Go Nali!”
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3/11/13 You are growing mushrooms daily…

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a close up of some very beautiful, tiny tiny tiny little mushrooms
along the trail to Greeley Pond…

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3/5/13 “Encouraging you to be kind and compassionate to yourself….”

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Trail, above, leads to Greeley Pond, photo below…
Kindness and compassion with oneself and others…
perhaps, leading to a sense of…

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Posts with Greeley Pond photo background
Multiple google images page: Many “Reflections” images and ideas….
“Encouraging you to still the mind”
“Reflections on the pond”

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